UEFA has not cleared FC Barcelona of allegations in the long-running Negreira case, with the European governing body's investigation confirmed as ongoing. The clarification comes after false claims circulated on social media that Barcelona had been exonerated.
A recent statement from Barcelona itself confirmed the proceedings, which began in 2023, have never been closed. The club acknowledged that UEFA has received and will assess new documentation submitted by rivals Real Madrid. Real Madrid stated its submission details events of what it calls extraordinary seriousness that damage football's integrity.
The core allegations
Barcelona faces allegations of paying more than €7 million over 17 years to companies linked to José María Enríquez Negreira, a former vice-president of Spain's refereeing committee. The club has consistently denied any corruption, maintaining the payments were for technical reports on referee behaviour, a practice it says is common.
Legal actions escalate
Separately, Barcelona has initiated a mandatory preliminary conciliation claim against Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez for alleged defamation. A court has scheduled a hearing for this claim on 25 November 2026. This action is distinct from the UEFA sporting investigation and does not involve a €1 billion judgment, as falsely claimed online.
The situation continues to be monitored by UEFA's Ethics and Disciplinary Inspectors, who are reviewing all evidence. No timeline for a conclusion has been given. Ross County's next fixture is away to Queen of the South on 17 October.
The original report is at Dubawa
